He named the affected districts as Bawku, Bongo and the Kassena-Nankana where the conditions of the patients had already deteriorated before they arrived at health facilities for attention.

Reacting to reports in the Ghanaian Times publication of April 6, 2017, which held that the region had recorded 58 deaths from CSM in 13 weeks, the Regional Director said at the inauguration of the Regional Epidemic Management Committee, where the “Times” reporter was part of the meeting, resource persons made power point presentations which they clearly stated that there were six deaths from the aforementioned districts.The Regional Director said his outfit has intensified education on the disease through various community engagements including durbars and radio education adding that “when the season peaks, management of the disease even becomes better due to the seriousness attached to educating the public.”

Dr Issah said in the last three weeks no case of infection or death on CSM has been recorded in any of the health facilities in the region and indicated that the service does not present reports weekly as presented by the reporter.He said the report sort to paint a gloomy picture of the situation which did not even exist and said the situation was under control as intensification of the education on the disease was on going.Dr Issah said there were several suspected cases that were reported at some of the facilities in the region but after a critical examination such cases turned to be negative.

He urged the media in the region to be circumspect in reporting on health related issues adding that his outfit was ready to give out accurate information and appealed to media practitioners to exercise patience and verify information from the directorate.